# IE 6.0 Conundrums **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 29, 2003, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-6-0-conundrums/191570 "2003-07-29T01:26:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-6-0-conundrums/191570/1 "2003-07-29T01:26:49Z")
First some background. I am/was a computer programmer, the last projects I worked on were in the Perl/CGI/HTML/Javascript realm. I have both IE Version: 6.0.2800.1106… and NS Version: 7.0. I currently use Verizon DSL service (so far, very good.) I have a couple problems with IE, I was wondered if anyone here could help me out. Thank you very much in advance. Problem 1: When I click on a link in IE I don’t always get the hour-glass-busy for my cursor (but sometimes I do). So, many times I can’t tell if I clicked a link and I am waiting for the connection, or I missed the link when I clicked and the browser is idle. I ALWAYS get the hour-glass-busy cursor when I have clicked on a link using NS. Problem 2: With IE, there are many cites (i.e. [http://www.keysso.net/](http://www.keysso.net/)) where I get a popup stating I need to download the Java virtual machine. Many times I have gone with the popup’s advice and pushed the download button. It takes me off to Mr. Bill’s Never-Neverland of system service pack downloads. I have downloaded and installed the latest IE 6.0 service pack several times, still the same problem persists. I also download and install upgrades periodically when I get the popup balloon on my taskbar telling me new upgrades are available (BAAAAA … I am a sheep). But anyway, no matter what I do, I still get the popup error saying I must load the Java virtual machine. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-6-0-conundrums/191570/2 "2003-07-29T01:34:01Z")
1. I look at the Windows logo at the top right corner of the IE window. If the icon is still, the browser is idle, if it’s active you’ll see the icon animate. 2. You can download Sun’s Java Runtime VM J2SE v. 1.4.2[here.](http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4/). ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-6-0-conundrums/191570/3 "2003-07-29T01:43:12Z")
Addendum to OP: I am running Winders XP Professional on a reasonably new laptop. ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-6-0-conundrums/191570/4 "2003-07-29T02:02:49Z")
I think the Java virtual machine popup is just another way for Mr. Bill to say everyone must now re-write everything using C# and .NET. Why? Because Mr. Bill says so that’s why. It’s called Microsoft innovation, or in other words, we steal yet another subsystem (J2EE) developed by a competitor, put a new coat of paint on it, make it incompatible with the original system, shrink wrap it, and call it innovation. Geez, ain’t America wonderful? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-6-0-conundrums/191570/5 "2003-07-29T02:05:47Z")
Actually, that’s not it at all. Microsoft has been barred by the US Supreme court from distributing it’s Java VM, and you must now use Sun’s version if you don’t already have the MS VM installed. The downside is, I find the Sun version runs horribly on my system, and is inferior to the MS version. ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-6-0-conundrums/191570/6 "2003-07-29T02:24:43Z")
Thanks **Q.E.D.** I did the Java Runtime VM J2SE v. 1.4.2 download, installed and rebooted (just for grins). Still, same problem with IE. Is there some configuration I have to do to IE or the Java download to make the “connection”? Just general hints on where to start looking would be very helpful. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-6-0-conundrums/191570/7 "2003-07-29T02:46:57Z")
Is it possible the applets you are trying to load require Java 3D? I had no problem getting the Sun Java VM to work once installed (though, as I said, I’m unhappy with its performance on my XP system–YMMV). Can you post examples of the applets you’re trying to access where you have this problem? Meanwhile, try going to Tools \> Internet Options \> Advanced tab, and scroll down til you see the Sun Java stuff, and make sure the right VM is checked. ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-6-0-conundrums/191570/8 "2003-07-29T04:00:53Z")
OK, looked at the “advanced” tab and that box is/was checked. Here’s one site that ALWAYS gives me the error. There are others, I just can’t remember them right off hand. [http://www.keysso.net/](http://www.keysso.net/) ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-6-0-conundrums/191570/9 "2003-07-29T04:09:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ccwaterback \* > \*\*url][http://www.keysso.net/](http://www.keysso.net/) \*\* Hmmm. Works for me. Ok, I’m at a loss here. ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-6-0-conundrums/191570/10 "2003-07-29T04:15:38Z")
Here’s another cite that works fine with NS but not IE, and I’m not quite sure why. [http://www.tvguide.com/Listings/index.asp?I=60850&zip=33709](http://www.tvguide.com/Listings/index.asp?I=60850&zip=33709) Now when I click on that link everything works fine in both NS and IE. But when I use one of the little blue arrows on the right to advance to the next hour, IE reloads part of the next page and stops, it never completes the load. But with NS this site works just fine. Hmm … just more NS / IE weirdness. I would like to use just IE these days since NS seems to be is waning. Maybe what I should do is e-mail the cite’s webmaster and take up the issue with him/her. ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-6-0-conundrums/191570/11 "2003-07-29T04:19:50Z")
Well I did some Java development on this machine a few months ago and I was using NS as my default browser. Maybe some setting somewhere deep in the darkness is screwed up now? Hard to say. It’s just one of those head scratchers that won’t go away ☹ Oh well, I will keep plugging away and see if I can hammer and duct tape things back together again. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-6-0-conundrums/191570/12 "2003-07-29T04:38:27Z")
I’m using JBuilder 6.0 for Java development. So far, nothing has gooten screwed up. Guess I’ll keep my fingers crossed, though. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-6-0-conundrums/191570/13 "2003-07-29T15:34:06Z")
New word,…gooten.